Play-off histories

Okay, we can’t learn anything from the form here, other than that one defeat has had a profound effect on this current bunch of players.

Nine of the players from last season’s Wembley defeat started on Sunday.

Those absent – Hooper and Hutchinson – were both injured.

Carlos has talked up the relative quality of our substitutes and our ability to change matches tactically compared to last season.

Injuries or not: it is clear who the Head Coach trusts on the field.

As for Town, they are play-off regulars, this time taking their eighth place in thirty seasons.

Andy Booth fired them to the second tier in 1995 – their first play-off campaign.

Between 2002 and 2012, Huddersfield entered the play-offs six times, winning once in the fourth tier and once in the third tier, also losing out on four occasions.

Their most memorable day, of course, sealed a return to the second tier after an eleven year absence.

Penalties followed a 0-0 draw with Sheffield United, and Town inexplicably missed their first three.

Jordan Rhodes and Jack Hunt were among seven scorers before Steve Simonsen sent his penalty into orbit.

Since, they’ve contrived to have *exactly* the same season for four concurrent years; winning roughly fourteen games each term, scoring about 55 goals, conceding around 70, and finishing somewhere near 18th.

Crikey.

HEAD 2 HEAD

WEDNESDAY WINS

TOWN WINS

DRAWS

20

24

13

CARVALHAL’S COHORTS

Wednesday are almost at full strength.

Expect little change from the weekend. Hutchinson and Hooper were both kept out completely with the former more likely to return for this leg.

We’ll miss Hooper should be absent; much has been written and said about his excellent link play.

Reach and Wallace both have excellent understanding with their full-backs: something to consider from a defensive perspective.

Could Reach drop out with Forestieri moving to the left, accommodating room for Rhodes?

Whoever starts, Carvalhal will be left with plenty of options from the bench.

WESTWOOD

HUNT

LEES

LOOVENS

PUDIL

WALLACE

LEE

BANNAN

REACH

FLETCHER

FORESTIERI

KEY PLAYER

ROSS WALLACE – Last season, Wednesday had Wallace to thank for his two semi-final goals.

The first, a long range beauty in the magical 2-0 home win; the second, a fortuitous cross that evaded everyone on the south coast.

The Scot’s ability to find moments of genius from nowhere has won Wednesday numerous points in his two years with the club.

Cast your minds back to January, and the distance bullet which opened the scoring against tonight’s opponents.

Wallace celebrates

His contribution is much more rounded, however.

The aforementioned relationship with Jack Hunt is key to Wednesday’s approach, offensively and defensively.

Wallace missed five games during the league season: we took three points on just one occasion, losing twice.

THE BETTING BOX: 5 OF THE BEST

BET

Wednesday WIN

Town WIN

DRAW

SWFC 2-1 HTAFC

Rhodes hat-trick

BEST ODDS

5/4

11/4

23/10

9/1

100/1

BOOKIES

HUGH’S VERDICT:

Electric atmosphere. Check.

Hillsborough under the lights. Check.

Two teams, full of ability. Check.

Two coaches, both capable of out-witting the other. Check.

Hopefully the team can play the opponent not the occasion, and the crowd can create the occasion without worrying about our opponents.